On Sunday’s stage to Mont Ventoux Joaquím Rodriguez (Katusha) resurfaced in this year’s Tour de France as he took fourth place on the summit finish and finally began to show signs of the class that had made him one of the pre-race outsiders for the overall win.

Today Rodriguez was once again well placed in the group containing the top contenders and he efficiently steered clear of the incident involving Chris Froome (Sky) and Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) on the final descent of the day. That was enough to elevate him to 7th overall as Jakob Fuglsang was dropped on the last ascent on Tuesday’s stage. The events of the day induced a new surge of optimism into the Spaniard who said he is now beginning to have the right feelings in his legs and is determined to keep fighting for the podium as the race enters its crucial face in the Alps.

"Finally I start to have the feelings I was expecting,” said Rodriguez. “Today I had a really good day. Apart from the place I gained the in general classification, I'm happy I wore out my rivals. Tomorrow the crucial part of this Tour de France begins. I'm still convinced I can fight for the podium."

Rodriguez currently trails third placed Alberto Contador by 2’46”.